Submerger



Sept. 20, 1932. r c B, COOK 1,877,817-

SUBMERG'ER Filed April 26, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 1 CZB. C OQKA TTORNE Sgpt. 20, 1932. v

' C. B. COOK SUBMERGER Filed April 26. 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 mm H R. Vmmfiw m? WK m T W 7 mm m m 5 6 W M 8 8 G Y B W FIE S 2 l Q g 1 5 E a.)N2 M2 3 3 S. 2. on Q.

SePL 1932- c. B. COOK 1,877,817

SUBMERGER Filed April 26. 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 1 N VEN TOR.

C.B.COO/1.

BY I 30 I I V ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 20, 1932 Parent OFFICE CHARLES 346003. or LOS ANGELES,cmromvrn SUBMERGER Application filed April 26, 1930. Serial No. 447,746.

This invention relates to submergers.

The general object of the invention is to provide an improved submergerfor containers.

Another object of the invention is to'providea submerger wherein thearticle submerged is treated with an especially prepared material. r

A further object of the invention is to provide a submerging device withmeans for automatically replenishing the supply of liquid in the device.1

Another object of the invention is to provide a submerging device withmeans for antomatically discharging a predetermined quantity of emulsionat predetermined in- 'tervals into theliquid in the device.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from thefollowing description takcnin connection with the accompanying drawingswherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through my improved submerger.j Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the device.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3' of Fig. 1. i i

Fig. 4 is a sectiontaken on line Hot Fig. 1 showing the cradle tilted.

Fig. 5 is a section taken-on line 5-501 Fig. 1.

, Fig. 6 is a fragmentary exterior view showing the rear wall andassociated parts.

Fig. 7 is a section taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 8 is an enlarged viewof avalve with parts thereof broken away.

.Fig. 9 is a section taken on line 9.9 of F 1 showing the latch in anoperative po sition.

Fig. 10 is a similar view showing the latch in an inoperatlve pos1t1on.-Y

Fig. 11 is a fragment of the rear wan showing the switch operatingmechanism.

Fig. 12 1s a view of the control switch and showing the w1r1ng hookupdiagrammatical- Referring-to the drawings by reference characters I haveindicated my improved submcrger generally at 10. As showni'this I devicecomprises asupporting frame 12having a tank 13 mounted thereon whichincludes a frontwall 14, a back wall 15, a bottom 16 and ends17 and 18.Adjacent the end 17 of the tank I provide an elevating mechanism whichis'indi cated'generally at 20. i As shown this elevating mechanismincludes a cage 21 mounted on. a piston 22 which is positioned in acylinder 23 which extends downwardly from i the bottom of the tank.Adjacent the lower end of the cylinder 23 I provide an inlet 24. whichcommunicates with a pump 25 through the'niediu'm of a pipe line 26having interposed therein a controlvalve27;(Fig. 3). Interposed betweenthe cylinder inlet 24 and thecontrol valve 27 I provide aT 27 fromwhicha pipe line 28 extends intothe tank 13 adjacent the "rear 15opposite the piston 22. This pipe line extends upward. in the tank asindicated at'29 and is provided with a plurality of perforations.Interposed in the pipe line 28 I provide an electrO-mflgnetic valve 30.

Between the pump and the control valve 27 the pipe line 26 is providedwith a T 26' from which a pipe line 31 having interposed therein acontrolvalve 32, extends into the tank 13to adjacent the" back wall 15as indicated at 33 and is provided with a plurality of perforations onthe face nearest to the carriage.

Interposedin the pipe line 31 above thecontrolvalve 32 I provide a T 34from which a pipe line35 extends up intothe tank 13 adjacent to the backwall 15 as indicated at 36-and is provided with a plurality ofperforations on the face nearest to the carriage, like the portion 33-01the pipeline 31. e v j The pump 25 is driven by an electric motor 37 andis adapted to draw fluid from the tank 13 through a pipe line 38 whichextends into the tank as indicated at 39. The upper end'of the pipeportion 39 is closed by a cap 10- (Fig. 7 and in the side wall of thepipe adjacent the top thereof I provide an elongated aperture 41.Surrounding the pipe 391 provide a sleeve 42 on which a hollow float 43is mounted and in which I provide acond'uit 44 which inclines upwardlyand which eattends through theslecve and isadapted to register with theelongated aperture 41 in the pipe 39. For retaining the conduit 44 asindicated at 47 by the dotted line inFigJ 1. When the tank is thusfilled the float 43 retains a position wherein theouter end of theconduit 44 is justbelow the level of the fluid so that when the pump isactuated the fluid is drawn into the pipe 39 from ad-' jacent thesurface of the-fluidas clearly;

shown in Fig. 7.

-When the valve 27 is open and the motor is operating the pump forcesfluid into the cyl-.

inder 23 thereby raising the piston .22 and the carriage 20 and when thevalve 30 is actuated to-a fully opened position the weight of the pistonand carriage forces the fluid in the cylinder 23.;out through'the pipes28 and 29'into the tank 13 thereby allowing the piston and carriage tomove downward. The actuating speed of the piston22 may be controlled bythe valve 27. I I

A all times during the operation of the pumpfiu-id is forced throughthe. pipeline 31 into the pipes'33 and 36 into the tank and V tank '13 Iprovide a cradle 81. yAs shown'this the valve 30 is provided .with,aby-pass 48 as shown in Fig. 8 so that fluid is'also forced throughthe-pipe line 28 and the pipe 29 into the tank 13 at all times. Theamount of fluid passingthrough the by-pass .48 of the valve 30is not asufficient amount to allow the carriage 21 1130 be lowered.'=

suitable source by a pipe 52.

The boxes indicated at such as are adapted to be treated by thisdevice,.may be field boxes for picking'citrus fruit which aregenerallycomposed of solid ends 56, sides '57'and bottoms 58 which are made of aplu-' rality of members having openings 59 therebetween, and theboxesare positioned in the carriage 21 on one of their sides with the opentop facing the back wall 15 of the tank.

The carriage 21includesiasolid bottom" member 60'and'la side member 61on the side adjacent the back 'wall 15 of th e tank.

The side member is p rovided w ith a plu here 63. The vertical members63 extend across the top of the cage and have a plu-,

rality of spaced slat members 64;secured thereto. .The side members 63are so positi'onedthatf when a box 55 is positioned in the carriage theycover the slots 59 in the bottom 58 ofthe box'and the top members 64cover the slots 59 in the uppermost side 57 of the box.

For conveying the boxes 55 to the device 10 any suitable type ofconveyor mechanism such as indicated at 65 may be used.

Between the end 17 of the tank and the carriage 21 I provide a roller66esecurcd to a shaft 67 which is mounted in bearings 68 on the tank andon one end of which I provide a sprocket wheel 69 by which the shaftisadapted'to be rotated.

Adjacent the opposite end of the cage 21 I provide a roller 7 O which'isprovided on its outer periphery with a plurality of projections 71 andis secured to a shaft 72 mounted in bearings ,7 Son the tank 13 andsecured on one end of the shaft 72 I provide a sprocket wheel 74 bywhich the shaft 72 is adapted to be rotated.

The sprocket wheels 69 and 74 are adapted to be rotated by a sprocketchain 75 which is supported thereon and passes around a sprocket wheel76 secured to a shaft 7 7 mounted in a bearing 78 on the end 17 of thetank 13. For rotating the shaft 77 I secure thereon another, sprocketwheel 79 which is adapted to be driven by a sprocket chain 60 from anysuitable source of power.

cradle includes a plurality of spaced transverse members 82 havingsecured theretoside members 83 anda plurality of spaced longitudinalrails '84- The cradle 81 is supported at one end by a shaft 85positioned inIa bearign 86 on the'end18 of the tank and at the oppositeend by a shaft 87 supported by a transverse member 88 secured to thefront and back of the tank. The axes of the shafts 85 and 87 are to oneside of the longitudinal center of the cradle so that the cradlenormally tends'to tilt with the rear side down and the front side up, asshown in Fig. 4,

' and to furtherincrease this tendency I preferably provide a weightedmember 89 on the underside of the cradle.

For limiting the downward movement of the rear side of the cradle Iprovide a stop 90 and for limiting the downward movement of thefrontside of the cradle I provide a stop 91. Secured to the cradle shaft87 I provide an arm' 92which is adapted to be engaged bya finger 93secured to the bottom 60 of the to which it is rocked.

with it I provide means for automatically replenishing the strength ofthe solution. As shown thismeans includes a container 96 posltioned inthe tank 13 adjacent the end 18 .and includes a capped filling conduit97 which extends up above the rear side of the tank. Extending fromadjacent the lower end of the container 96 I provide a pipe line 98(Fig. 1) which communicates with a pump 1 99 and has a check valve 100interposedtherein. From the pump99 I provide a pipe line extends abovethe pump barrel where it has one end of an arm104 secured thereto. Theother end of the arm is secured to a downwardly extending rod 105.Adjacent the lower end of the rod 105 I secure a collar 106 and adjacentthe arm 104 I provide a collar 107 which is movable on the rod andadapted to be retained in an adjusted position by a set screw 108 (seeFigs. 1 and 3). Secured to the bottom 60 of the cage 21 I provide an arm109 which is apertured to surround the rod.

105 andis adapted to engage the collars 106 and 107. On theupwardtravelof the cage 21 the arm 109 engages the collar 107 therebymoving the rod 105, arm 104 and the piston.

103 upward, actuating the pump to draw fluid from the container throughthe pipe line into the pump barrel. The length of stroke and theconsequent amount of fluid drawn into the pump barrel may be regulatedby adjusting the collar 107 to the desired position on the rod .105.

On the downward travel of the cage 21 the arm 109 engages the collar106and through the mediumof the rod 105 and the arm 104 moves the pumppiston 103 downward thereby actuating the pump to force the fluid in thepump barrel out through the pipe line 101 and discharging it into thefluid in the tank. i

To control the elevating actuation of the elevator mechanism 20 I haveshown in Fig. 12 a mercury switch 110which is enclosed in acontainer 112mounted 011 the exterior of the tankand which includes a mercuryreceptacle 113 mounted on a base 114 secured to a shaft 115" whichprojects through the rear wall 15 of the tank and has a plate 116secured thereto. Extending upwardly from the plate 116 I providea rod117 on which.

a weighted member 118 (Fig. 11) is adjust ably secured and which retainsthe plate 116 and the switch base 114 in whichever position As shown. inFig. 12 the mercury switch includes a terminal 119 which is connected bya wire 120 to one terminal of the electro magnetic valve 30 and aterminal 121 which is connected by a wire 122 to one side of a suitablesource of electrical energy which is shown as a battory123. The otherside of the battery is connected by a wire 124 to the other terminal ofthe valve 30.

Thus it will be seen that when the switch is in a position wherein themercury engages both the terminals 119 and 120 electrical energy will beconducted to the valve 30 thereby actuating the-valve to an openposition whereupon the cage 21 will move downwardly as previouslydescribed. When the switch is rocked to a position wherein the mercurydoes not contact with both of the terminals 119 and121 the electricenergy ceases to be conducted to the .electro-magneticvalve 30 whereuponthe valve closes and the cage is raised as previously described.

For rocking the plate 116 to operate the switch 110 to cause actuationof the valve to lower the cage 21 I provide an arm 125 (Fig. 5) which ispivotally supported intermediate itslength on an arm 126 secured to theunder side oi the bottom 60 of the cage. the-arm 125 adjacent the backwall 15 of the tank is provided with an upstanding post 127 and theopposite end of the arm is slacklyconnected to an upstanding post 128which is positioned in an apertured arm 129 secured to the bottom 60 ofthe cage and on the upper end of the post 128 I provide an enlarged head130.

When the cage 21 is in a raised position the bottom 60 thereof is belowthe top of the roller 66 and the head 13.0 is also below the top of theroller so that as a box passes over the roller into the cage it does notcontact with the'head 130 until the rear end of the box haspassedofftheroller 66 whereupon it engages the head 130 and moves it downward.hen the head 130 is moved downward the post 128 rocks the arm 125thereby moving the post l27 upward, which in turn rocks the plate 116 toactuate the switch 110 to operate the valve 30 to an open positionwhereupon the cage 21is lowered as previous ly described.

For actuating the switch 110 to close the valve 30 I provide a bracket132 which is secured to the cage 21 which includes an apertured arm 133in which I-position a threaded rod 134. At the lower end of the rod 134I provide a weighted member 135 and for adjusting the distance theweighted member 131 extends below the arm 133 I provide a lock nut 136.

its the cage 21 reaches the limit of its downward movement theweightedmember 135 engages the plate 116 and as the cage continues tomove downward the weight of the member135 rocks the plate 116 tocausethe switch 110 to actuate to operate the valve 30 toa closedposition whereupon the cage 21 is raised as previously.described.

The end of To move the box oil? of the head 130 ofthe device while thecage 21 is" lowered I provide a latch 138. As shown in Figs. v9 and 10this latch includes an arm 139, which is pivoted as at 140'to the end 17of the tank 13, and an upstanding finger 141. The pivot 140 ispositioned-s that the arm 139 is unbalanced and normally assumes atilted position wherein the finger 141 projects above the top of theroller 66 and prevents a box on the conveyor 65 from entering the deviceas shown in Fig.9. For operating the latch 138 to allow a box toenterthe device I'provide anarm 142 which is secured to the bottom 60 of thecage 21. As the cage 21 reaches the. limit of its upwardtravel the arm142 engages the latch arm 139 and as the cage.

veyor'65 as shown in Fig. 10.

For. s'teadying the elevating mechanism during the operations thereof Iprovide a plurality of guide rails 144 which are adapted to be engagedby the members 62. r

' For limiting the upward movement of the cage .21 I provide apluralityof brackets 145 which are secured to the tank sides. and whichare provided with threaded apertures in which threaded bolts 146 arepositioned and which are'adapted to be retained in an adjusted positionby lock nuts 147.

For replenishing the fluid take-n trom the tank by each box I provideaicontrol mechanism indicated generally at 150 (see Figs. 2, 4 and 6).As-shown this-device comprises a tank 151 secured-to the exterior of thetank 13 and which is in communication with the interior thereof belowthe fluid level by means of a passageway152 as clearly shown inFigs. 1and 6'. The fresh fluid is conveyed to the device by a pipe line 153-which extends through the tank 151' wherein it is provided with acontrol valve 154 which includes a valve stem 155.

For operating-thestem 155 I provide a rod 156 which is pivoted at oneendto the tank 151-as at 157. On the opposite end of the rod 156 Iprovideafloat 158 and intermediate the length of the rod 156 I slackly connectmoves upward thereby closingthe valve 154.

From the tank 151 the pipeline 153 extends towards the end 17 of thetank 13 where it turns upwardly and doubles back on itself andterminates. in a stand pipe 160 as clearly shown in Figs. 3, and 6. Thevstand'pipe 160 is provided with a plurality of T fittings 161 from eachof which a pipe 162 extends through the rear wall of the tank 13 intothe tank to a point adjacent the solid face 6 of the cage 21.

Interposed in the return portion of the pipe line 153 I provide acontrolvalve 163 which includes a valve stem 164. This valve stemextendsthrough the tank wall 15 into the tank 13 where it includes anangular arm 165 which extends towards the tank end 17 into the path ofthe arm 125 of the cage trip mechanism. V

aFor normally retaining the valve 163 in a closed position and the arm165 tilted downward I providefan arm 166 on the valve stem. To the endof the arm 166 I secure one end of a coiled spring 167, the other end ofwhich is suitably anchored to the back 15 of the tank .above the arm166(see Fig. 11).

The valve163 remains'closed at all times except when the end of a boxengages the head 130 and operates the trip mechanism to actuate theswitch to cause the cage to lower. As the rear end of the-arm 125 movesupward to tilt the plate 116 it also rocks the arm 165 out the valvestem thereby opening the valve 163 whereupon'the fluid in'the pipe-line153 is discharged through the pipes 162.

For maintaining the fluid level in the tank 13 below a predeterminedpoint I provide an overflow pipe 170 which opens into the tank as at.171. i v V In operation the tank 13 is filled with fluid to the levelindicated by the dotted line in Fig. 1. and thecontainer 96 is filledwith the treating solution, the cage 21 being at the bottom of the tankand the plate 116 being in a position wherein the switch 110 is in aposition'wherein the valve isclosed and the latch 135 being'in positionto prevent boxes from entering the device.

The motor .37 is then started which operates the pump 25 to draw fluidfrom the tank 13 and forces it through the pipe 26 into the pipes 31 andand into the cylinder 23. As the valve 30 is closed the fluid pressureforces the piston 22 and the cage 21 upwardto a raised position as shownin Fig. 1 where it is ready to receive a box from the conveyor-65. Asthe'cage 21 is raised it actuates the latch 138 to allow a box to enterthe cage as previously described. The box passes from the conveyor ontothe roller 66 which moves it into the cage 21- and as the end'of the boxleaves the roller it'engages the head 130 of the trip mechanism androcks the arm 125 which simultaneously actuates the switch 110 to'openthe valve 30 and rocks the arm 165 toopen the valve 163.

When the valve 163 opens the fluid inithe pipe line 153 is dischargedthrough the pipes 162, the ends of which form spray nozzles which areadapted to distribute the .fluid over the entire inside of theboxthrough the center aperture 61" in thesidefll of the cage. When. thevalve opens the fluid pressure in the cylinder23 is released and thecage 21 lowers: As the cage21 lowers the perforated portions 29, 33-and36 of: the

pipes 28, 31 and35 direct the fluid discharging therefrom through theapertures 61" in the cage side 61. The fluid discharging from the pipes33 and 36 is directed towards the far corners of thebox and theforce ofthe fluid discharging from the pipes 29, 33 and i i the cage which covertheopenings 59 in the bottom of the box and the buoyancy of the boxraises the box against the members 64:

on the top of the cage which cover the openings 59 in the uppermostsideofthe box, thus preventing the fluid from flowing through the openings59.

When the cage 21 reaches the limit of its downward travel the weightedmember 135 actuatesthe switch 110 to close the valve 30 as previouslydescribed, whereupon the cage 21 is raised.)

011 each lowering and raisingoperation of V the cage 21 thepump 99 isactuated to discharge a predetermined amount of the treating fluid inthe container-96 into the fluid in the tank 13 as previously set forth.The amount of the treating fluid discharged into V the tank 13 on eachcomplete operation of the elevating mechanism is preferably equal to theamount it is calculated each box removes from the tank 13 so thatthe'strength of the mixturein the tank remains'substantially the same atall times.

When the box in the cage has been submerged and then raised the latch138 allows another box to enter the device from the conveyor mechanism65. As this second box enters the device it engages the first box in theca e and moves itonto the cradle 81.

g tam a treatlng solution and means operable As the box passes over theroller 70. the protuberances 71 thereon strike the box and jar the same.I

When the second box has actuated the trip mechanism and the cage 21moves downward the arm 93 on the cage moves out of engagement with thearm 92 on the cradle shaft 87 whereupon the cradle tilts as previouslydescribed allowing the superfluous fluid on the box to drain back intothe tank 13.

After the complete submerging and raisfromits top position.

ing of the second box a third boxentersthe .devicelfrom the conveyor 65and as it does so it engages the. second box in the cage and :movesiitonto the roller 7 Q which moves it onto the cradle and into engagementwith, the first box whereupon on .further move .ment of the second boxthe first box is moved oil of the cradleonto the conveyor 95.

,-This\device :is particularlyadapted for treating orange and lemonfield boxes to.

bugs, etc.,which might be on the box or in the crevices or knotholesofthe boxes. The mealy bug is the most diflicult to kill because it entersthe smallest cracks of the wood and lays its eggs as far back inthe"cracks as possible. For this reason it is desirable toallowthe cage 21to bump when it reaches thebottom of'its stroke so that the box receivesa jar and as the box passes over the roller it receives a multiplicityof jars from the protuberances 71 on the roller 70. 1

I have found that even if the solution completely surrounds a mealy bugthe bug is frequently unharmech'but by jarring the box the fluidsurrounding the mealy bug is disturbed and the'skin of the bug isagitatedand renderedsuch that the fluid will penetrate the bug and killit. "a

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have inventedan improved submerger which is highly eificient inoperation. i

What I claim is:

"1. In an article treatingdevice, a tank adapted to contain apredetermined amount of fluid and an amount of solution,means to immersean article in said tank below the fluid level therein, means toautomatically replace'fluid insaid tank takenout by said article andmeans to automatically replenish the amount of solutionin the tank.

2. In an article treating device, a tank adapted to contain apredetermined amount; of fluid, means to supply fluid to said tank,elevator means to lower an articlein said tank below the fluid leveltherein, and to thereafter raise said article abovethe fluid 7 leveltherein, a container, said containerr; being independent of said fluidsupply means, said container being adapted to'conupon lowering andraising of said article to deliver a predetermined amountof said so 1.

lution from said container into said tank.

31 In; a device of the class described,'a tank, an elevator in saidtank, meansenabling said elevator to be lowered andto'be raised, meansto feed an article to saidele-:.

vator when said elevator is at its top position, and means to preventoperation'of the feeding means when the elevator is away 4.In'ardevice,of the class described, a:

y Scale: mold, :fungus, Vermi cage, power operated means to deliveraconcradle-beingftiltable, means to convey a container to said cage,means operable to cause said cage to be lowered and to later cause saidcage tobe raised, means-to convey said container from said cage andmeans to tilt the container.

5. In a device-ofthe' class described,a tank, a support in said tankadapted to receive a container, means to cause said support to belowered said means operable upon the limit of the downward travel ofsaid support to cause said support to be raised,

a cradle, said cradle being tiltable and means to convey said containerfrom said support to said cradle. j

6. In an article treating device, a tank,

said tank being adapted to contain a prepredetermined amount of saidsolution from said container to-said tank.

7. In a device of the class described, a

tank, a cage in said tank, means to raise and lower said cage, means todeliver a container to said cage, means operable by the container tocause said cage to be lowered and then raised, a cradle, said cradlebeing tiltable, means to convey said container from said cageto saldcradle, means operable upon the downward travel of said cageto tilt saidcradle and upon the raising of said cage to cause said cradle to resumeits normal posi-' tion and means to convey said container from saidcradle.

8. In a device of the class described, a tank, a cagein said tank, meansto raise and lower said cage, means to deliver a slatted container tosaidcage, and means, on said cage to cover the space between the slatsof said containers.

'9. In a device of the class described, a tank adapted to contain atreating solution, means to deliver a hollow container to said tank, c

means to lower the container below the fluid level in said tank and tothen raise it, means whereby one of said two mentioned means is actuatedby a change in position of said.

container, means to spray'theinterior of said container .with fluidbefore it is lowered and means to convey the container from the.

tank.

'10.-In a device of theclass described, an elevator, means to raise andlower said elevator, means to deliver a container tosaid elevator,rmeansoperable therfollowing end portion ofsaid container to cause'operationof said first-means, a' cradle, saidmeans to tainer from said elevatorto said cradle and jar the container while being conveyed. I

11. In a device of the class described, a tank, an elevator mechanism insaid tank, said elevator including a cylinder, a piston in said cylinderand a carriage supported by said piston, means to conduct fluid underpressure from said tank to said cylinder,

means toconduct fluid from said cylinder to said tank, said last meansincluding a control valve, said valve including a by-pass whereby whensaid valve is closed a predetermined amount of fluid may pass throughsaid conducting means into said tank, said valve when. closed beingadapted to restrict the flow offluid from said cylinder whereupon saidpiston is raised by the fluid pressure and said valve when open allowingthe free passage of fluid from said cylinder through said conductingmeans to said tank whereupon said piston lowers, and means to controlsaid valve. I

12. In a box sterilizing device, a tank,

means to deliver an article into the tank, means to transport an articleaway from the tank, said tank being adapted to contain fluid and meansto deliver fluid under pressure greater than that'of the fluid pressurein the tank into said tank so that it passes into and through an openbox in said tank.

13. In a box treating device, a tank, means to support an article insaid'tank, a pump,

means connecting said pump with said tank to drive fluid under pressuregreater than that of the fluid pressure in the tank, into the tank, sothat it passes into and throughan open box in the tank, said'pump havingan inlet pipe, said inlet pipe having a suc tion portion disposed at thefluid level in said tank, whereby the fluid forced into the box is drawnfrom the surface of the liquid in the tank in which the box is immersed.

In-testimonywhereof, I hereunto afiix my signature.

CHARLES BQ COOK.

